As EJS Leads in Run-off, Calm Returns to Liberia

With Liberia remaining calm after the presidential run-off elections and United Nations peacekeeping troops on full alert across the country, the top UN official there today advised a disappointed candidate to file complaints officially with the National Election Commission.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Liberia, Alan Doss, met with George Oppong Weah, a former world soccer star, former UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador and now the presidential candidate for the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) to discuss the candidate’s concerns.

Mr. Doss urged Mr. Weah to file CDC’s complaints as soon as possible with Liberia’s National Election Commission, which has the legal responsibility to investigate the matter. He also assured the candidate that the UN would follow events closely.

The 8 November run-off election pitted Mr. Weah against Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a former banker, former UN Development Programme (UNDP) senior official and now the candidate for the Unity Party.She is presently leading by 60% according to the Liberian electoral commission.

Photo: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, next president of Liberia?